AT 21, Javier Davis is already learning that sometimes, supporting the arts means doing the work before anyone is watching. With no certainty that the idea he has will bear meaningful fruit, Davis formed Di Talent Lab — a space where, so far, 14 members have gathered to nurture individual talent, while joining forces with like-minded peers.

Di Talent Lab began taking shape in 2022, when Davis, now a student at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, became a member of a performing arts group led by actor Akeem Mignott. The experience opened doors for him. He gained exposure, experience and opportunities that helped him see what might be possible when a young creative is given a chance. Soon, other students began asking him how he had found those opportunities. Then it dawned on him. Creatives were searching for a shot at honing their talent, a chance to realise their dreams.

He decided to fill the gap.

“So many students wanted a chance, a shot at living their dreams,” Davis recalled. “I was inspired to form a group where I could provide those opportunities.”

Di Talent Lab grew from his encounters with students during an all-island tour. As Davis travelled from school to school, he met young people eager to learn more about their craft and gain the kind of exposure that can be difficult to find early in a creative career. They came from across the island, even as far away as Hanover. The group is primarily focused on drama but also embraces singing and dance. Davis sees it less as a traditional performing arts group and more as a meeting place for people who understand the particular hunger of wanting to create.

“If you love the performing arts, this is the space to come together with like-minded individuals and just hone your talent,” he said. “You can learn from each other, I can teach you what I know and you can showcase your talent in a safe space.”

Creating that space, however, has required Davis to contend with the realities of nurturing young talent in Jamaica. His members live across the island, making regular face-to-face meetings difficult. Finding a time when everyone is available can be just as challenging as finding a physical location that works for everyone.

But the work continues.

When the group cannot meet face-to-face, they gather online. When they cannot rehearse together, they practise their individual pieces alone. The physical distance between them has not erased the shared ambition that brought them together in the first place.

Recalling the group’s genesis, Davis said Di Talent Lab has only ever had one sponsor — the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), which provided transportation across the island during its tour. For Davis, support like that matters as he expressed how difficult it has been gaining other brands to invest in his group of fresh talent. He lamented that too often, sponsorship in the performing arts appears to favour those who have already established themselves while young creatives who are still building their names, struggle to get anyone to look their way.

“A lot of the times you would be reaching out to these companies and because they realise that you only have two or three thousand followers, they don’t respond to you,” he said. “That’s heartbreaking because we have so many talents that go unnoticed in this country because their platform isn’t big enough.”

Still, that frustration that has only sharpened Davis’s determination. He wants companies that believe in the performing arts to join forces with Di Talent Lab. More than sponsorship, though, he is asking for a different way of looking at support — one that sees potential before popularity.

“Art deserves support at all stages,” he said. “Please assist and see how best you can help young talent rise. Focus a little more on the persons who are trying and not just those who have a brand. You can never tell what your support will lead to.”

That belief seems to be at the heart of Davis’s own approach. What keeps him grounded is not recognition or numbers, but watching the members of his group become excited about what they are doing. Their passion, he says, makes him want to push harder. He wants to find more ways for people to enter spaces where their talents can be nurtured.

The next step is already taking shape. Davis is looking toward February and March 2027, when he hopes to stage Di Talent Lab’s second all-island tour and reach even more young people. He is also looking forward to bringing more members into the group and expanding the community around it. The ambition is considerable for a group still only months old. But Davis is not waiting for Di Talent Lab to become established before believing it deserves support. He is building while it is still small, encouraging people while the numbers are still modest and showing up for the people who need him most.